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boxes at convenience stores

Posted by Dan Haugh on April 8, 2010 at 5:43pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion
i went into the convenience store a few blocks from my house to get a soda, and i noticed they had a small glass-topped box with various cigars inside for sale. i asked if they had any of the boxes still... the guy gave me two, and will continue giving em to me as they become available. i'm stoked, and the owner is stoked... (he was just throwing them away!! ack!)

anyway, thought i'd mention it in case anyone is looking for boxes, and are coming up empty-handed -- check your local Kwikee Mart! heh.

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Replies

  • Tracy Kennedy April 19, 2010 at 3:30pm
    Well today I went in to my local tabacco shop to check the selection of empty boxes and finally asked the shop manager if she would be interested in trading a guitar to dispay for free boxes. She was very interrested, but said that would be a desision for the owner. (They charge $5.00 for any empty wooden box and $1.00 for the cardboard boxes) She did mention thought that the owner might be intersested in doing commission sells of the CBG's I build as well...he gets a cut, I get a cut. At the very least she figures if the shop owner aggrees, that there would be a built in client base to sell my CBG's too. Im Stoked!!!
  • MichaelS Country Boy Guitars April 17, 2010 at 10:30am
    Those sizes sound fine, the depth is very good and helps alot with the sound. My first one was an old box, also all wood and about those dimensions and the sound is nice. Plus the old box's look cool, make a guitar out of them.

    Rex said:
    I have called all around in my area for boxes. I have a contact at distributor here in Missouri, they told me that cigar boxes are not so easy to come by in my area, because the manufacturers have cut back on cost of packaging. Grrr.
    I found three nice boxes at flea markets, however, the dimensions are not exactly what I want. Too small for my preferences. They are long enough about 10" but the width seems too short, something like 4 or 5 inches. The depth seems good though around 3 or 4 inches. They are very old and made of a real nice wood, with paper outlining the edges and corners, one still has the receipt (price tag) in the box, dated 1928! What ever I build with that one I want to incorporate that tag into the build somehow.
  • ken farmer April 17, 2010 at 10:14am
    If you don't think it'll make a good CBG - you could use it for a small two-speaker amp.

    Rex said:
    I have called all around in my area for boxes. I have a contact at distributor here in Missouri, they told me that cigar boxes are not so easy to come by in my area, because the manufacturers have cut back on cost of packaging. Grrr.
    I found three nice boxes at flea markets, however, the dimensions are not exactly what I want. Too small for my preferences. They are long enough about 10" but the width seems too short, something like 4 or 5 inches. The depth seems good though around 3 or 4 inches. They are very old and made of a real nice wood, with paper outlining the edges and corners, one still has the receipt (price tag) in the box, dated 1928! What ever I build with that one I want to incorporate that tag into the build somehow.
  • Rex April 17, 2010 at 9:07am
    I have called all around in my area for boxes. I have a contact at distributor here in Missouri, they told me that cigar boxes are not so easy to come by in my area, because the manufacturers have cut back on cost of packaging. Grrr.
    I found three nice boxes at flea markets, however, the dimensions are not exactly what I want. Too small for my preferences. They are long enough about 10" but the width seems too short, something like 4 or 5 inches. The depth seems good though around 3 or 4 inches. They are very old and made of a real nice wood, with paper outlining the edges and corners, one still has the receipt (price tag) in the box, dated 1928! What ever I build with that one I want to incorporate that tag into the build somehow.
  • Jim April 14, 2010 at 12:03pm
    the box on the left is what i used for my first, good find :)
  • Toby April 14, 2010 at 2:25am
    Yep Dan, Just found this out today. Went to visit my dad and he's been collecting them from a store near his work for me for the last month. He's got 7 nice ones so far. And of course I forgot to take a photo.
  • MichaelS Country Boy Guitars April 12, 2010 at 10:03pm
    Sounds like that could be useful, I haven't made many but I would contribute what I've found so far.

    ken farmer said:
    Would anyone be interested in creating a simple database of cigar boxes?

    I was thinking about documenting dimensions, materials, materials grade, paper removal notes, etc, etc...

    Wes Yates said:
    yeah, I don't normally take the paper off as I like the art most of the time. I can see that cardboard (composite pressboard) would absorb the water it would take to losen the glue and thus ruin the box.

    I wouldn't even bother removing the paper from those (like PUNCH, Boliva, etc. Hint: Anything that has a Spanish Cedar block or sheet or if it's completely covered inside with paper might be pressboard).

    -WY

    ken farmer said:
    I've been going through a number of paper-covered boxes - since I can get them more easily than the plain wood.

    I've found some paper-covered boxes made of cardboard with a plywood bottom, others are a plywood/fibre composite of some type with plywood on top & bottom. So far it's taking me about 4 hours to get all the paper off and then there are complications - like the top doesn't fit very well any more, the box is too flimsy and has to be reinforced substantially, etc.

    Another issue with using the bottom is that most that I get have a deep diagonal cut along the bottom that interferes with the looks.

    So far it seems to me that if you've got paper-covered boxes you're probably best off keeping them that way.
  • ken farmer April 12, 2010 at 3:42pm
    Would anyone be interested in creating a simple database of cigar boxes?

    I was thinking about documenting dimensions, materials, materials grade, paper removal notes, etc, etc...

    Wes Yates said:
    yeah, I don't normally take the paper off as I like the art most of the time. I can see that cardboard (composite pressboard) would absorb the water it would take to losen the glue and thus ruin the box.

    I wouldn't even bother removing the paper from those (like PUNCH, Boliva, etc. Hint: Anything that has a Spanish Cedar block or sheet or if it's completely covered inside with paper might be pressboard).

    -WY

    ken farmer said:
    I've been going through a number of paper-covered boxes - since I can get them more easily than the plain wood.

    I've found some paper-covered boxes made of cardboard with a plywood bottom, others are a plywood/fibre composite of some type with plywood on top & bottom. So far it's taking me about 4 hours to get all the paper off and then there are complications - like the top doesn't fit very well any more, the box is too flimsy and has to be reinforced substantially, etc.

    Another issue with using the bottom is that most that I get have a deep diagonal cut along the bottom that interferes with the looks.

    So far it seems to me that if you've got paper-covered boxes you're probably best off keeping them that way.
  • Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates April 11, 2010 at 11:35am
    yeah, I don't normally take the paper off as I like the art most of the time. I can see that cardboard (composite pressboard) would absorb the water it would take to losen the glue and thus ruin the box.

    I wouldn't even bother removing the paper from those (like PUNCH, Boliva, etc. Hint: Anything that has a Spanish Cedar block or sheet or if it's completely covered inside with paper might be pressboard).

    -WY

    ken farmer said:
    I've been going through a number of paper-covered boxes - since I can get them more easily than the plain wood.

    I've found some paper-covered boxes made of cardboard with a plywood bottom, others are a plywood/fibre composite of some type with plywood on top & bottom. So far it's taking me about 4 hours to get all the paper off and then there are complications - like the top doesn't fit very well any more, the box is too flimsy and has to be reinforced substantially, etc.

    Another issue with using the bottom is that most that I get have a deep diagonal cut along the bottom that interferes with the looks.

    So far it seems to me that if you've got paper-covered boxes you're probably best off keeping them that way.
  • ken farmer April 11, 2010 at 12:25am
    I've been going through a number of paper-covered boxes - since I can get them more easily than the plain wood.

    I've found some paper-covered boxes made of cardboard with a plywood bottom, others are a plywood/fibre composite of some type with plywood on top & bottom. So far it's taking me about 4 hours to get all the paper off and then there are complications - like the top doesn't fit very well any more, the box is too flimsy and has to be reinforced substantially, etc.

    Another issue with using the bottom is that most that I get have a deep diagonal cut along the bottom that interferes with the looks.

    So far it seems to me that if you've got paper-covered boxes you're probably best off keeping them that way.
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